Preparing for College Part 2

Designed for students who have completed college-level work in high school, tests are given in specific subject areas and are used to determine if a student may gain advanced standing in college.

• SAT Reasoning Test

• College Entrance Exam

• ACT

• Advanced Placement (AP) Tests

Certificate issued by a school, college or university to a student who has met coursework and graduation requirements.

• diploma

• major

• minor

• transcript

Financial aid based on merit and/or criteria set by the donor. This award money does not have to repaid and is either paid directly to the student or deposited in a university account.

• FAFSA

• scholarship

• grant

• loan

A formal request for acceptance to a college or university; requires the submission of forms and other materials.

• admission

• permission

• application

• aptitude

One of the highest levels of an academic degree. Typically requires the completion of a Master’s Degree plus advanced graduate courses in a specialized area.

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's Degree

• Associate's Degree

• Doctorate Degree (Ph.D)

Any financial award to a student (e.g., grant, scholarship, work study, or loan).

• FAFSA

• Financial Aid or Assistance

• Credit Hours

• Award Letter

A practice curriculum-based test and examination of interests and skills for 10th graders.

• SAT Reasoning Test

• Advanced Placement Exams

• ACT

• PreACT

The application process in which a student submits an application to an institution by a specified date and receives a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time, but not later than April 15.

• Open Admission

• Rolling Admission

• Regular Admission

• Early Decision

A natural ability or talent.

• aptitude

• attitude

• Honors Program

• admission

A plan under which a student applies to the first-choice college early in the fall (usually by November 1 of the senior year) and agrees by contract to enter that college if offered admission. Applicants are judged on the basis of their junior year test scores, class rank, and grades.

• Early Action (EA)

• Common Application

• Admission

• Early Decision (ED)